In part two of my Formula 1 2010 season preview, it is time to look at the midfield runners, hoping to avoid humiliation from the new teams, but also out to surprise the championship contenders on often occasions.
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India)
When Giancarlo Fisichella elected to jump ship from Force India to Ferrari last summer, Vitantonio Liuzzi was given a second chance to establish himself in Grand Prix racing. Having been dumped by Toro Rosso at the end of 2007, Liuzzi’s F1 days looked numbered, but at Force India, he has the opportunity to prove those doubters wrong. On his return at Monza last year, he looked set for 4th place, when his driveshaft broke before half-distance. Though he rarely featured on our TV screens after that performance, he more than gave Adrian Sutil a run for his money, and this year, he will aim to be Force India’s top dog. Failure to do so and Vijay Mallya will wield the axe on Liuzzi, he must deliver in 2010 with no excuses.
Sebastian Buemi (Toro Rosso)
Swiss starlet Sebastian Buemi more than made a name for himself last season and in an uncompetitive car put in some very eye-catching performance. He was quick at Suzuka, despite being an attraction for the barriers, stunning in the Shanghai rain and very consistent in Interlagos. With four point finishes last season, Buemi ended Sebastian Bourdais’s dreadful F1 career with Toro Rosso and shouldn’t have any problems again against Jaime Alguesuari. Whether Toro Rosso can give him a better car is another question, but Buemi will give 100% to show again why he should be on the grid and who knows, daring drives might get him the call from the senior Red Bull very soon…
Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber)
At 39, Pedro de la Rosa is the second oldest driver on the 2010 grid and he must be race-rusty, having only done nine races in six seasons. Despite doing hundreds of testing miles with McLaren since 2003, it will be good to see the dynamic de la Rosa back on the grid, and he won’t do dull either. The Sauber looks a very good car and the Spaniard has been quick in winter testing. If he can be a consistent point’s finisher, maybe Sauber’s decision not to re-sign Nick Heidfeld will turn into an excellent piece of business.
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams)
Nico Hulkenberg is one of the most promising young drivers around in motorsport. At 21, the German has some of the skills that made Michael Schumacher such a true legend. By signing on with Williams, Hulkenberg has given himself the chance to be on the pace straightaway, even if high expectations come with it. With a better GP2 record than Lewis Hamilton, having ran away with the A1GP series for Team Germany in 2007 and managed by Willi Weber, Nico has got all the right people backing him. I’m expecting a lot of fireworks from him in the coming season ahead.
Adrian Sutil (Force India)
Last season, Adrian Sutil finally got a car underneath him that could show off his promising talent. However, now in his fourth season of Grand Prix racing, Sutil must stop getting involved in accidents and arguments with other drivers. It will be interesting to see him wheel-to-wheel with Jarno Trulli after their bust-up in Brazil at the end of last season. Sutil lacks the consistency of a natural-winning racer, but over one lap, can deliver when the chips are down. Force India are quietly confident of their chances, so as long as he doesn’t stick his car in the barriers too often, I would expect Adrian to visit the F1 rostrum for the first time at least once this season.
Kamur Kobayashi (Sauber)
He was very mediocre in GP2, but Kamur Kobayashi’s breakthrough into the sport in the last two races of last season was a major highlight. Deputising for the injured Timo Glock at Toyota, Kobayashi produced a gritty performance in Brazil, despite incurring the wrath from the new world champion for some questionable manoeuvres. He missed out on the points in Sao Paulo, but made the most of his strategy to finish a brilliant 6th in the season finale at Abu Dhabi. Toyota quit, but Peter Sauber has picked up this Japanese raw talent, possibly the best driver to come out of Japan. If the consistency matches the raw speed, his signature could turn into one of the bargains of the season.
Robert Kubica (Renault)
After four largely frustrating years at BMW Sauber, Robert Kubica finally has a place he can call home, at Renault who gave him his first F1 test back in 2005. I felt sorry for the Pole last year, especially as BMW abandoned a championship assault in 2008, to build a pig of a car last season for him to drive. Second place in Brazil last year was one of the drives of the season, and he could have won the season opener in Melbourne, had he not crashed into Sebastian Vettel in the closing stages. However, on too many occasions, when Kubica’s head is down or he starts moaning, his driving abilities drop as a result. His comments pre-season about the car aren’t encouraging for his new team either. He will be a better leader at Renault than Fernando Alonso and is committed to the cause, but Robert needs to stay patient for this partnership to work. It could well be a trying season once again, for such an unfulfilled talent.
Rubens Barrichello (Williams)
He may well be 37 and have notched up 300 Grand Prix starts by the end of the season, but Rubens Barrichello’s zest and desire for F1 have not wavered. Out of the Brawn, were he looked at times, a very forlorn figure last season, Rubens was in the form of his life then, and at Williams, he feels at home. With Frank Williams and Patrick Head both natural-born winners, this relationship can only be a match made in heaven. Barrichello could well be the dark horse of the season and should Williams give him decent equipment, he might very well end their barren run of five years without an F1 victory.
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